OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Smithdale, MS 39664

Smithdale: median income $42,500, home value $113,200, $189/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walton, WV 25286 92%724$45,250$106,500— smaller
Mauk, GA 31058 91%376$40,655$85,200$157 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Salley, SC 29137 90%566$41,116$107,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Lamont, FL 32336 90%413$45,481$109,200$162 smaller
Bradford, AR 72020 89%285$49,231$95,300— Very close on everything we compare
Rembert, SC 29128 88%621$43,571$100,200$151 larger
Graysville, TN 37338 88%424$49,592$121,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Lane, SC 29564 87%647$40,000$78,000— cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Bulls Gap, TN 37711 87%554$42,406$121,500$161 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Drakes Branch, VA 23937 86%792$42,818$85,000$177 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Ruffin, SC 29475 86%587$39,769$95,000$225 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Frierson, LA 71027 86%187$42,781$104,300$198 smaller
Ponce De Leon, FL 32455 85%283$50,952$109,800$205 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Speedwell, TN 37870 85%528$55,516$126,400$205 larger
English, IN 47118 85%537$41,579$119,000$192 younger residents · more single-family homes
Washington, LA 70589 85%93$49,650$129,300$146 younger residents
San Augustine, TX 75972 85%204$44,196$96,300— larger · 5 min shorter commute
Zavalla, TX 75980 85%220$45,439$94,500— Very close on everything we compare
Yemassee, SC 29945 84%584$55,449$124,300$166 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Florahome, FL 32140 84%536$35,474$151,900$198 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · younger residents
Pomona Park, FL 32181 84%556$47,101$100,400$161 younger residents
Muscadine, AL 36269 84%350$44,618$127,500$194 smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Lawsonville, NC 27022 83%697$43,281$162,500$175 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · younger residents
Uvalda, GA 30473 83%482$49,565$109,200$119 Very close on everything we compare
Altha, FL 32421 83%331$48,719$113,200$154 larger · 8 min shorter commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.